Egg breaker and shell expresser



F. KAUFFMAN E'TAL 2,898,961

EGG BREAKER AND SHELL EXPRESSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16. 1955 ATTR/VE/ Aug. ll, 1959 F. L. KAUFFMAN ETAL 2,898,951

EGG BREAKER AND SHELL ExPREssER Filed Sept. 16, 1955 l 4 sheets-sheet 2 Fl OYD l. KA UFF-'MAN N Delos vAA/oaLA/l ALLE/v w. :HARP o INVENTORS Allg 11 1959 F. KAUFFMAN Erm. 2,898,961

' EGG BREAKER AND SHELL ExPREssER Filed Sept. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Shea?. 3

'lllllli FLOYO L. KAUF/:MAN 46 DEZ 0S E. VAMOOLAH BY 16K/5;

Arm/PMF( AUS" 11A, 1959 F. 1 KAUFFMAN ET AL 2,898,961

EGG BREAKER AND SHELL EXPRESSER Filed Sept. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IZO- f l bto J9 IHUHIMMI 12'? 126 Ha W6. f2 oro A. [Aur-MA/v DELOS' 8. IMA/004A# AAcE/V M4 `S11/ARP INVENToRs TTOR/YFY EGG BREAKER AND SHELL EXPRESSER Floyd L. Kautman, Palos Park, and Delos B. Van Dolah, Chicago, Ill., and Allen W. Sharp, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignors to Swift & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois t j. Application September 16, 1955, Serial No. 534,780

15 Claims. (Cl. 146-2) The present invention relates to apparatus for handling eggs. More specically, the present invention is directed to apparatus for separating egg magma from egg shells.

Many types of egg handling apparatus have been devised in an effort to provide an automatic system capable of recovering either whole egg meats or separated yolks and whites from shelled eggs. Various egg breaking and separating machines have been found to operate eiciently. However, in most instances, such apparatus is not capable of fully extracting the meat of the egg from the shell. Itis, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for increasing the yield of egg magma recovered from whole eggs. v

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for increasing the yield of eggwhites recovered from whole eggs. y p

@It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus capable of presenting egg meat and associated shells for inspection during the egg handling process while materially reducing labor requirements.

Still a further object is to provide apparatus capable of allowing more efficient inspection of the egg meat and shells during the egg breaking and separating process while reducing the loss of marketable egg meat which accompanies the occasional presence of inferior egg meat.

Another object is to provide apparatus capable of allowing more etcient inspection of egg meats and shells during the egg breaking and separating process, thereby reducing the loss of marketable egg'whites which accompanics the occasional presenceof broken egg yolks.

Still another object is to provide apparatus for handling egg shells which materially increases residual egg meat recovery.

Another object is to provide egg shell handling apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with the majority of existing egg breaking and egg meat conveying machines.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention which, for purposes of simplification, only partially shows an egg breaking and egg meat conveying apparatus capable of separating egg whites from egg yolks and suitable for use in conjunction with the shell handling apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of the present invention with only a partial sectional showing of the egg breaking and egg meat conveying apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the shell expressing apparatus showing a partial view of the shell conveyor of the present invention to more clearly demonstrate the operative position of the expressing means. Also shown in this ligure are means designed to remove the bulk of the egg magma from the egg shells when the apparatus of the present invention isused to obtain whole egg material without separating egg whites from egg yolks.

Figure 4 `is an elevation of a section of a suitable egg meat conveyor drive means which demonstrates a manner in which the operation of the egg meat conveyor can be synchronized with the operation of the egg shell conveyor of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention which partially shows bulk egg breaking and egg meat and egg shell conveying apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with the shell expressing apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an end view of one form of bulk egg breaking means which may be used in connection with the conveying apparatus of Figure 5.

In Figures 1 and 2, the egg breaking and egg white and egg yolk separating and conveying portion of the apparatus is not shown in any great detail. The schematic showing used is considered suitable to properly illustrate the manner in which the shell handling apparatus of the present invention can be used in conjunction with existing egg breaking and egg meat conveying systems. For Y example, the partially schematic representation of the egg breaking and egg white and egg yolk separating and conveying apparatus is of the type described in `the U.S. Patents Nos. 2,229,349 and 2,521,907 issued to I. M. Sigler and J. C. Gill, respectively. The Sigler apparatus is an egg breaking and egg meat dividing and conveying system which can be suitably used in conjunction with the shell handling portion of the present invention. The Gill apparatus is directed to a similar system also suitable for use in conjunction with the shell handling system of the present invention. patents are hereby incorporated byreference.

breaking and egg meat conveying systems presently known, it is not believed necessary to provide any detailed explanation of this portion of the total system of the present invention.

Referring specically to the apparatus shown in Fig` ures 1 and 2, egg breaker lll is shown in schematic form as containing egg chute 11. Egg breaker 10 is associated cient detail to generally explain its operation'. Egg

breaker 10 and egg meat conveyor 12 are mounted on a. general frame 14. Conveyor frame 15 which properlyY positions egg meat conveyor 12 is also mounted on frame 14. Attached to conveyor frame 15 are conveyor mounts 16 which, in turn, support vchain tracks 17 upon which of 4 cups each, indicating that egg breaker `1(7) in this` particular instance contains facilities for breaking 4 eggs chain 19 moves. Attached to chain 19 at spaced intervals'Y are brackets 20 which support cup carriages 21. Trays 23 are mounted on the cup carriages 21 and support egg meat cups 24. As the eggs are broken, egg meats are' separated from their shells by the egg breaker 10 and arel deposited in cups 24, the contents of a single egg to each cup. Cups 24 are so designed as to effect a separation of the egg Whites and egg yolks. As seen in Figure 2, egg meat conveyor 12 is shown containing spaced rows at a single time. Cups 24 are advanced by chain 19 which is driven by suitable means, a portion of which is to be described in connection with Figure 4.

Cross members 25 of general frame 14 aid lin supporting and positioning vertical frame members 26, which support the shell treating apparatus of the present invention. Horizontal frame members 28 and 29 extend from' one of the vertical frame members 26 to support vertical frame member 30 which has mounted at the top portion thereof shell conveyor support 31 which in turn suitably supports frame member 33. Wedge 32 aids in position-f ing and maintaining the weight of shell conveyor 34.

Referring particularly to Figure l, shell conveyor 34j contains sprocket 35 which is mountedon` shaft 36. Also mounted on shaft 36 is a ratchet 38 and arm 39. At

Patented Aug. l1, 1959 The disclosures of these two;

Y In viewl of these patents and in view of the various types of egg` one endfoarrn 39 andl attached thereto by shaft 41 is pawl-40whichis-urged'toWard-the center offarm 391byspring 42 which can be clearly seen in Figure 2. The remaining end of arm 39 is attached to rod end 45 ofvrod, 4G by shaft' 44: Reciprocalmotion imparted to rod`46' operates arm 39 to periodically rotate, sprocketA '35A through the operation of p awl 40'fandratchet'38'. The p eriodr'c, rotation off sprocket 35ir nparts movement tou chain48'-whichin turn' is supported atits other endby sprocket 49"'mounted1onshaftv50. Attachedf'tc chain 48 are pans-SZlwhich, as shown in the drawings, are formed' inthe ,shape of, scoops.

Referring particularly to Figures 2-and5,pans 5Z'are a portion of hinge leaf ^54-in-shea th 5f7- attachedL to the back members ofiplans 52'.4 Hinge ,leaf 54'-is connected lto the cooperating hingeleafjSby pin 55'.v Hinge leaf 5'3" is suitably attached to chain 48: kLeaf 56 (see Figure 2).; rotates about pin S5 with hinge leaf'54--as pans '52" are dumped, andfultimately contacts the back surface of hinge leali 53'toY limit Ithe length of the'arc described by the;` downward-swing of Apans52. As chain 48'moves5 pans advance--aroundthe area described bythe enclosed patlr of1travel-ofchain 48. DuringV the bulk-of -thedistance traveled-I along; this. path, the pans are held-inay plane horizontal to the enclosed path of*- travel-by vsupporting rod;A 58 which A is connected; to frame member 33; byubars59 shownin Figuresel and- 5: In Figurel, supporting -rod' 58yis. shown vas ending abruptly-near=` oneside of-sprocket35fand is also shown as returniugtoitsorigi-v nal positionl n earon e sideA of -sprocket- 497; During the; distanceY traveled betweenthe ending and' beginning of;

aaaael.

is thereby deposited close to the points of contact of rollers- 65;' Since rollers 6S-are mounted at an angle, as shown in Figure 2, eggs meatgwhich is expressed from the shells as the shells are drawn between the rollers flows toward the tapered ends `69 of the rollers and ultimately is deposited in trough 7(1 frornvyhich it is delivered into receptacle 72. The egg shells meanwhile travel between the reliefs.;aadearecdenostedibelomthe:rallersra Suitable. receptacles.

Thei drivinameans for ess Shell; expresses 60 includes mater. 74' heldby cross .members 6T 'an.d.17..5. audLQutrgut shaft 77'. The shaft from the motor74sis-attachedto n pulley 78 which drives belt 79 and pulley 80 (see Figdetachably `inountedoni'cllain 48g1through the insertion of* ure-A 1). Shaft 811 supports `pulley'lSlltarld"l extendseinto gear reducer 83. v Shaft. 84.egtenls:out f ilom gear reducer 83 and drives sprocket 86. Chain 87 is associated with sprocket 86 and transmits power to sprocket 88 which is mounted on kone. of the shafts 6 4. Gear 89., also mounted onsaidshaft64gjmeshes with' gear 90;.to driveroller 65 onlthe remaining shaft '64;' In this mannerfrollers 65are, rotated to expressdresiduall egg: meat from the egg shells.

Referring: back. to shaft 84; an eccentric 92is mounted, ondtheendthereof'andcontains` rod 93 ,which in turn is attached'yatits other end to eccentric, 94: Shafti, is

supporting rod 58, pans -52 areallowedto swingen their connecting hinge; therebyallowing the eggshellsreceiyed-z from chute. 1-1 -to be dumped. c

Due-:to the particular arrangement of# eggslielll conveyor-34 inrelation toegg-meat conveyor` 12 A and Achute- 1#1-, theshellsof each series of 4veggs-are depositedlin'asingle pan 52 through chute 11 at the same timethatitheegg meats of the4=eggsvare depositedin separate cups 24. The. synchronizationexisting between the.. driving` means ofregg meat conveyor -12 and egg shell kconveyor34,` whichwill betexplained.- in` conjunction with Figure 4,* causespansf.52. to be .advanced-'at-the same speed as their-correspondingeggfmeat cups 24. In thisnianner,A the-egg? meat canbe. inspected andiunsuitable eggvmeat can beremovedgalongwith their'shells by detaching the proper. meatiand shell receptacles. Very littlewaste occurs since;

for: example, ifoneeggis.. defective, only its meatand- A theshellsof foureggsfarediscarded. Cups Z4 and pans 521=are easily. detached for'this.` purpose andnewureceptacles can-bereadily introduced into the system.

Shell expressor 60 isshown positioned-on vertical frame members 26;'to one. side of `theshell conveyor-34. Framek memb.ers..26;.support' L-beams 61. which aremounted atI amangleA as; shown in'. Figure 2; Extending between la-,beams161t is..-a: cross member 62 which contains bearings 63pm which are journaled the= endsl of shafts 64. Rollers,.65= arej mounted on shafts 64 and are preferably m'adeiofmubber. T hehother englsofshafts 64. aresuitably. journaledin bearings; (not shown). supported by cross; members- 67. Trough 68 .ismounted 4directlyover.rollers; 65g The troughhas slanted sides:and an opening'inritsi bottom portion to allow egg material` to pass .torollers-GS; Rollersf 1haye.,tapered; ends 69 as shown in Figure 1. Trgpugh A70l is -located directly below rollers..65fandis.sup. ported by. crossi member 71. Trough 70 is.mountedg at am anglesimilarV toA thatof rollersl 65V and contains.. an opening atone en d thereof `which is-directly: over receptaf-:lwz (Fisure.2.)

When paris. 5.2. areidumped.: as pwviously.described,v ess-A shellsapdresidualeggmeat are'deposited into trough 68.-( Ifhe slanted-sidesof troughg681cause theimaterial to move towardthenopening in thebottom central .portion ofthe` trough through which.'it u1timatelypasses The--material= attachedto eccentric 94 andjhas its other endjournaled in bearingw97 which,'in turn, is mountedon supportj98j.' Pusher 99'which containsrelatively highI sides and afront face (not shown); is mountedat a p ,oint along rod;93': In operationhas rod-rotates around'the longitudinal, ofY the shafts 84 and'96;i pusher 99 is,y moved backward' and forward across ,the surfaceof', the slanted'side,of trough 68"i opposite the S1.e,0ftroug-h'68 whichjspositionedbelow pans 521 Egg shells dumped from pans 52 acumulatejn trough 68;'l AThe fprce of-tsubseq'untly dumped shells acts to push the accumulatedhells through the opening intheL Bottomof' trough* 68toward1rollers -652 Pusher 9 9, operates to force any eggsbells-which may accumulateagaihst tl1e-side 01E-trough 68t opposite theyside positioned` beneathpans 52toward-the` center-of the trough', The particular driving means: used in operating pusher. 99 causes-the baseoffthevpusher-to1be-tilted soas 'to lift'the pusher -frorncontact with the side of the trough as itis being-returned to Athe ltopi oflthe-said side. This movement preventsshel-lsfandjresidual; meatfrom beingtrappedf behindfthe-frontesurface-ofethe pusher.- i

In Figure-V331 amodification ofi theapparatuseoflthepresent invention. is showniwhich is Aespecially adaptable for usein connection-.with bulle egg breaking means-such'as s-picturedin Figures-5 and-6s Intermedateof egg shellf conveyor 34 and shell expressor 60 is screen 103-mounted on bracket 102;` Trough 104 \lies directly -below-screen 103 and.is-als o-mountedeoirbracketlzf Chute 105=-extends=downwardlyffrom-trough 104 toa-position directlyabove-trough 70aA As'brokenV eggg'shells and-associated egg meatare;dumped-=from pans-52^ they-fall uponscreen- 103 which is sufficiently tilted so as to al-lovvltheegg'shells to beforced by-.their'f--own `weight toward the end ofscreen 103 and'down linto` trough 682 At the same time, the bulk of:V the egg meat y separates from the shells and fallsthrough'; screeni 10Ell-into,trougl1`r 104fand-down-chute 10Ss into trough-70,1ultimatelynbeingldelivered into--receptacl'e 72. Screen 103 can be-vibrated-ibyfsuitable means iffthisf is..foundflto .bef-desirable. Byjvibrating screen 103, the amount of meatfpassing!throughbthescreen'- is greatly increased, Screensiof-'a meshof"approximately 1/2- inchhave :been foundizsatisfactoryi Variousfmatem'als including. galvanized' iron can beused/for the screen.

Figure4 demonstrates asuitablemanner of synchroniz. ing the movements ofeggl .meat conveyor- 12and egg shell conveyor: 34:. As.can-be seen,- rod46- is attached by lpinJ 109 toA eccentriclillwhichin turnjis. operatively attached togear-.111L`by shaft 110.I Gear -111=is driven byl gear-112 whichis mounted onshaft- 114-.' Sprocket 11S-is mounted' om shaft-114=and= drives chain 1.9. This arrangement causes rod 46 to reciprocate, thereby driving shell conveyor 34 as previously described.

In Figure 5, bulk egg breaking means 116 are shown in association with egg shell and egg meat conveying apparatus 34. Variable speed motor 117 mounted on bracket 118 acting through shaft 119 turns egg crushing or slitting means 120. Whole shell eggs 121 are fed either by hand or by suitable conveying means (not shown) to chute 122 where they are engaged and broken by crushers 120. The broken shells and exposed egg meats are then deposited in pans 52 of conveyor 34.

Conveyor 34 contains sprocket 35 Which is mounted on shaft 36. Also mounted on shaft 36 areratchet 38 and arm 39. Pawl 40 is attached to one end of arm 39 by means of pin `41 and is urged toward the center of the arm by spring 42. (which can be seen in Figure 2). The other end of arm 39 is attached to rod 46 by pin 44. The opposite end of rod 46 is connected to cam 125 by means of pin130; Reciprocal Lmotion imparted to rod 46 by gear motor 123 through pin 130 eccentrically mounted on cam 125V operates arm 39v to periodically rotate sprocket 35by means of pawl 40 and ratchet 38. This periodic rotation of sprocket 35 imparts movement to chain 48 which is only partially shown in Figure 5. Chain 48 is supported at its other end by sprocket 49 mounted on shaft 50. Attached to chain 48 are pans'52. Gear motor 123 also rotates cam 125 which causes micro switch 126 to ,be periodically activated by means of cam follower 127 and switch arm 128. Micro switch 126 controls the operation of variable speed motor 117 which, as is describedabove, activates egg breaking means 120. This coordinated action between variable speed motor 117 and gear motor 123 allowsegg meats and broken shells to be s ent through chute 122 only while a pan is positioned beneaththe chute.

In bulk egg breaking it is preferable to employ the modification shown in Figure 3` in association with conveyor 34 and shell expressor 60. Said modification consists of screen 103 mounted on bracket 102, trough 104 located directly beneathscreen 103 and also mounted on bracket 102, and chute 105 which extends downwardly from trough 104 to a position directly above trough 70.' As is described in connection with Figure 3, broken egg shells and egg meats are dumped from pans S2 'where they fall upon screen 103 which is'sufliciently tilted so as to allow the egg shells to be forced by their own weight to-y ward theA end of the screen 103 and `down into trough 68. At the Sametime, the bulk of the egg meat separates from the shells and falls through screen 103 into trough 104 and down chute 105 into trough 70, ultimately being delivered into receptacle '72. By vibrating screen 103,

the amount of meat passing through this screen is greatly increased. As is indicated above, screens of a mesh lof approximately one-half inch have been found satisfactory. Various types of materialv can be Vused for this screen, including the very satisfactory galvanized iron.

' Figure 6 shows an end view of one form of bulk egg breaking means that may be used with the conveying and expressing means described in connection with Figure 5.`

As Whole eggs 121 are fed into chute 122, Vthey are picked up by star wheel 129 which slits the egg shells and sends thefshell's and lexposed meat down chute 122 into pans 52. Star wheel 129 is turned by means of variable speed motor 117 acting through shaft 119. O ne or several such star Wheelsfmay be employed,` depending on the volume of eggs to be handled.

I vUndesirable egg meats and shells can' be removed from conveyor 3 4 by removing detachable pans 52 as previously described. Before the pans areplaced back into the systemthey should be washed and sterilized to insure against contamination of the good eggs. It is apparent that a number of sterilized receptacles can be kept on hand to replace those removed containing inedible product, thereby utilizing the full capacity of the system at all times.

Duejto the particular arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention and due to the ecienty of this apd paratus, it is possible that a single operator can eiciently carry out the operation. At the most, only two operators are necessary, one to inspect and remove undesirable products, and the other to feed the egg breaking portion and to empty the product receptacles. Egg meats collected by the egg meat conveyor 12 can be treated in any suitable manner. Normally, as is apparent in Figure 2, the meat receiving cups 24 are returned in an inverted manner to be refilled by the egg breaking portion 10. By this arrangement, the egg meat may be collected at the end of egg meat conveyor 12 in suitable receptacles which are capable of catching thev egg meat as it is dumped from the cups as the cups become inverted in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 4.

`Depending upon their condition, it may be necessary to wash the eggs prior to breaking in order to remove any incrusted dirt therefrom. It may also be necessary to treat the unbroken eggs so as to reduce the bacterial count on the shells to a satisfactory degree. It has been found that proper treatment is obtained by immersing the eggs in water heated to from about F. to about 200 F. for a period of about tive to about ten seconds. The brief period of time in which the eggs are subjected to heat in this manner prevents the temperature of the egg meats from being raised to a point at which coagulation may occur.

, The following examples illustrate comparative determinations of the bacterial count of whole egg material and residual egg material obtained from the shell of a given egg, which shell was subjected to the above treatment:

Eggs dipped in water at 180 F. for 10 seconds Whole egg Residual egg Batch material material bacterial bacterial count count As is apparent from the chart, this method of sanitizing eggs produces residual egg meat from egg shells which has a lower bacterial count than whole egg meat from the same eggs.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device suitable `for use in inspecting eggs, the said device comprising: a frame, egg breaking means on said frame, egg meat conveying means on said frame associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat of the broken eggs and move said meat along a predetermined path, said egg meat conveying means including meat receptacles for receiving the meat of the broken eggs, each of said meat receptacles capable of detachment when .the egg meat contained therein is undesirable, and separate open-topped shell conveying and receiving means on said frame associated with said egg breaking means and said egg meat conveying means to receive the shells of the broken eggs and move said shells along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the path of movement of said egg meat conveying means and at a rate allowing substantial continual association of the shells with their respective egg meats for inspection purposes, said shell conveying means including shell receptacles for vreceiving the shells of the broken eggs, each of.v

Said shell; receptacles capablmo detachmentwhenithe eggm'eat:oivitssassociatedgegg; meat receptacle; issfound. undesirable,

2; Aadevicesuitablegfor use imrecovering residualmeat; fromnthegshells fof; eggs,A the. said', device comprising; a. frame, shell conveyingrmeans onisaidfframecapableof movement along a; predetermined path,; said; shellconveying; meansyincluding receptacles fon: receiving and; conveyingy shellsalongi saidpath, saidl receptacles removable fromsaidonveyor for purposes of removing1undesirable, shells fr om` said. path', said-receptacles hinged to said; conveyor ffor downward-.swingingv movement at, a' point alonglsaid.v path, and shelll expressing-means oni said` frame4 atesaidizpoint to receive said; shells from.v saidy receptacles;- andexpress-residualanieattherefrom, said shellI expressing means including paired rollers mounted at an angleto1th'ehorzontalaxis oi said frame Vto allow-'the expressed residualmeat -to l'low ,olii they lowest end- Loffjsaid rollers whilethe-shellspass between said rollers.

3i.; A@ device suitable-foruse in recoveringresidual. meat from-theshells of* eggs,- the Asaid :device comprising: a frame,l egg-shell' and'l egg meat conveyingimeans` on. said frame Vcapable of` movementl along a predetermined path, saidk shell and meaty conveying means includingfreceptacles detachably mounted onsaid conveyorfor purposes-ofremoving undesirableV shells` and meat of" a given eggfrom -saidA path, means associated 'with saidconveying means for removing the bulk of said meat from said shells, and-shell expressing means associated-withsaid conveying means-to remove residual egg meat from saidshells.A

4: A- device suitable 'for useeinrecoveringresidualmeat fr`om-the-shellsfofI eggs; the said device comprising: -a lframe, egg shell and egg meat conveying means onsaid' framecapable.'of'movement along` a; predetermined path, saidshelland, meatconveyingmeans vineludingrecepta- Cles. detaehably .mounted on said conveyor for purposes of removingI undesirable shells and meat. from said path, screening means on said frame and positioned at said pointralongsaid. path. to receive .theshellsiand meatltromn saidreceptacles, said screening'means positioned at anL anglefto allowsaidshellsr to move across its surface by heinown weightwhile the bulk of said meat is separating from said-shells, andshell expressing means on said.; fratriey associatedj with said'screeningmeans to receive; the. shellsjherefrom andexpress residual` meatltherefroml..

5. A device suitable foruse in recovering residual meat from the shells ofeggs, the said device comprising: a frame, egglshell and Vegg-meat conveying meanson said frame capable of 'movement along a predetermined path, said shell and meat conveying means including receptacles `detachably mounted ,on said conveyor forrpurposes of removing -llndeirable shellsandmeat from said path,A said ,receptaclesvhinged tosaid conveyor for downward swinging movement at a point along said path, screening. means on said frame and positioned at said point along said path toreceiv,e the shellsandrneat fromsaid re- Ceptaeleasaidv screening ,means positionedat an. angle to 4allow said shells .to rmoveacross .its surface bygthein own weightwhile the bulk of said meat is separating from said shells., and shellexprresing means on, said frame as-- sociatedwith,saidvscreeningtmeans to receive theY shells therefrom andexpress,residualrmeat therefrom, saidshell expressing meansincludingpaired rollers mountedat an; angle .to `the horizontalaxis ..of.said frame to allow the.- expressedresidualmeat toflow ,olf Athe Alowest end, of. said. rollers. while thesshells pass between, said rollers.

6.,A device .suitable for. use in recoveringmeat from :the shells of eggs, thesaiddevicecomprising; a;-frarne, egg shell andv eggrneat conveying .rneanson said :frame capa, ble .-,ofmovement valong 1a predetermined path, f, said shell and meat-conveyng.means including i receptacles for receivingl-andsconveying shellsfand :meat lalong said path, Saidsreceptacles removable from 'said' conveyor4 for pur-l poses-vof removing undesirable'shellslf'and=meat--from^said path; said;ireceptaclesihingedrtosaid conveyor fon downe ward swinging movementraatl-a: point. along .said paths screeninggmeans on;v y said-.iframe --and positioned at said pointr along; said ,path to; receive-,thefshells `and meat from. said receptacles,Y said-screeninggmeans positioned. at-van.' angle-:togallowsaid Lshells to move acrossits surface;by; their own ,weight-.while the -bulk ofysaid meatv isisepar-ating from saidshells,vibrating means on said frame and asso:- ciated;twithssaidgscreening means to vibrate said screen.-l ingnneanseto aid;in the removal.y of the bulk ofthe meat;v from the shells; and shell. expressing l,means von. saidframe.- associated .withisaid screening means ,to receive the shells therefromrandiexpress residual; meat therefrom', said shell; expressingmeans iincludingi-paired rollers -mounted .atanA angle f to:;-the;-horizontal j axis of saidziframe. ;to: allow; the expressed residual meat to owolithe lowest end ot said; rollers .while the shells pass between said rollers.;

7.,'Al devicesuitable for'usein recovering residual meat:v from. the shells ofA eggs,i theA said. device comprising; ai frame,v shell'expressinglmeans on said.frame,.said y.expresse ing means-includinglpaired rollers mounted at anlangle. to the horizontal `axis ofvsaid frame, said rollers: havingtapered'ends, shellcollecting-means on said'frame yabove said rollers, said :collectingi means suitable fordirecting 'shells :between saidfrollers,t and shell movingrmeansonl said frame. associated. withl said collecting means :to: aid' in directing shells betweemsaid rollers.

8.- Afdevicesuitablefor userin recoveringresidual meat from the. shells..of'eggs,A` the said device comprising: a

iframe, shell-'expressingrneans on said frame, Said'ex'- pressing-means :including paired rollers mounted at van'- angleto the.- horizontal` axis :of said frame, said rollers' having-.taperedends, shell collecting means includinga troughV withV slantedsidesrv andan opening inits bottom portion on said frame above said rollers, said collecting meanssuit'able-- forfdireeting-'lshells between said rollers, shelly moving f means -on' said framel associated 'withsaid collecting:meansto'aid indirectingshells between said." rollers,l and: eggmeat receiving means on said frame positionedfatlthelowest ends of said rollers.

9; A; device suitable rfor ruse'in recovering-residual meat fr'ornV the'shell's ofteggs,- the-saidV device comprising: a' frame,` shell expressing meansI on said frame, said express-vr ing' means-includinggpaired rollersY mounted at anl anglel tothehorizontal axis -of' said frame, shell collecting means onsaid`fr`ame=andl above said rollers,` said'col# lectingmeansincluding an opening'in the'bottom portion thereofl Vapproximately'overthepoints of contact of' said rollers, slanted wallsleading Ydownwardly towardtheA bottom portion of..said collecting means to receive shells from saidshell conveying means'and kdirect'said4v shells between -said rollers, and shell moving means onL said frame and associated with'at least one of said vslantedwallsof.Y said collec-tingmeans'to aid in-di'rectingshell's betweensaidlrollers, said shell' moving means Vincluding a housing having..ak pushingface resting on1said"wall,' av shaft onsaid frame positioned in a horizontal plane rotated 90 Vfrom-the longitudinal axis Yof said housing and attached to said housingmeans attached to,saidl l shaftV to move said'sh'aft alongvan eccentric path about the-longitudinal axis 4of said shaft and reciprocatefsaid' p ushing face Yacross the surface-of said ,slanted wall," the eccentric movement of said shaftlifting saidpushing face on said 'housing out ofxcontact wtih said Wall during' the return of said face toward the top portion -of said wall.

104 A devicesuitable for use in handling eggs for separation and inspection purposes, the said device comprising: a frame, eggbreaking means on ysaid frame, egg, meat conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat of the broken eggs and move said meatl along a predetermined path', shell conveying means on. said frame and 'associatedlwith saidreggfbreakinggmeans and said eggumeat'fconveyingl means to receive the shells ofthe broken eggs andmove said shells along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the path of; movement of said egg meat conveying means and at a rate allowing substantial continual associationof the -shells with their respective egg meats for inspection purposes, and vshell expressing means on said Yframe associated with said shell conveying means to receive the shells therefrom and Aremove residual egg meat from said shells.

' 171, A device suitable for use in handling eggs for separation and inspection purposes, the said device comprising;-a frame, egg breaking means on said frame, egg meat conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat of the broken eggs and move said meat along a predetermined path, said egg meat conveying means including meat receptacles for receiving the meat of the broken eggs, each of said meat receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat contained therein is undesirable, shell conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means and said egg meat conveying means to receive the shells of the broken eggs and move said shells along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the path of movement of said egg meat conveying means and at a rate allowing substantial continual association of the shells with their respective egg meats for inspection purposes, said shell conveying means including shell receptacles for receiving the shells of broken eggs, each of said shell receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat of its associated egg meat receptacle is found undesirable, said shell receptacles hinged to said shell conveying means for downward swinging movement at a point along a path of movement of said shell conveying means, supporting means on said frame for mantaining said shell receptacles in a position substantially horizontal to said shell conveying means throughout substantially the total travel along said path of movement of said shell conveying means, and shell expressing means on said frame associated with said shell conveying means to receive the shells therefrom and remove residual egg meat from said shells.

12. A device suitable for use in handling eggs for separation and inspection purposes, the said device comprising: a frame, egg breaking means on said frame, egg meat conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat of the broken eggs and move said meat along a predetermined path, said egg meat conveying means including meat receptacles for receiving the meat of the broken eggs, each of said meat receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat contained therein is undesirable, shell conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means and said egg meat conveying means to receive the shells of the broken eggs and move said shells along a predetermined path substantially parallel the path of movement of said egg meat conveying means and at a rate allowing substantial continual association of the shells with their respective egg meats for inspection purposes, said shell conveying means including shell receptacles for receiving the shells of broken eggs, each of said shell receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat of its associated egg meat receptacle is found undesirable, said shell receptacles hinged to said shell conveying means for downward swinging movement at a point along the path of movement of said shell conveying means, supporting means on said frame for maintaining said shell receptacles in a position substantially horizontal to said shell conveying means throughout substantially the total travel along said path of movement of said shell conveying means, shell expressing means on said frame associated with said shell conveying means to receive the shells therefrom and remove residual egg meat from said shells, said shell expressing means including paired rollers mounted at an angle to the horizontal axis of said frame, shell collecting means on said frame above said rollers, said collecting means suitable for reing: .a frame, egg breaking means on said frame, eggv meat conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat of the broken eggs and move said meat along a predetermined path, said egg meat conveying means including meat receptacles for receiving the meat of the broken eggs, each of said meat receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat contained therein is undesirable, shell conveying means on said frame and associated with said egg breaking means and said egg meat conveying means to receive the shells of the broken eggs and move said shells along a predetermined path substantially parallel the path of movement of said egg meat conveying means and at a rate allowing substantial continual association of the shells with their respective egg meats for inspection purposes, said shell conveying means including shell receptacles for receiving the shells of broken eggs, each of said shell receptacles capable of detachment when the egg meat of its associated egg meat receptacle is found undesirable, said shell receptacles hinged to said shell conveying means for downward swinging movement at a point along the path of movement of said shell conveying means, supporting means on said frame for maintaining said shell receptacles in a position substantially horizontal to said shell conveying means throughout substantially the total travel along said path of movement of said shell conveying means, shell expressing means on said frame associated with said shell conveying means to receive the shells therefrom and remove residual egg meat from said shells, said shell expressing means including paired rollers mounted at an angle to the horizontal axis of said frame, shell collecting means on said frame and above said rollers, said collecting means including an opening in the bottom portion thereof approximately over the points of contact of said rollers, slanted walls leading downwardly toward the bottom portion of said collecting means to receive shells from said shell conveying means and direct said shells between said rollers, and shell moving means on said frame and associated with at least one of said slanted walls of said co1- lecting means to aid in directing shells between said rollers, said shell moving means including a housing having a pushing face resting on said wall, a shaft on said frame positioned in a horizontal plane rotated from the longitudinal axis of said housing and attached to said housing means attached to said shaft to -move said shaft along an eccentric path about the longitudinal axis of said shaft and reciprocate said pushing face across the surface of said slanted wall, the eccentric movement 0f said shaft lifting said pushing face of said housing out of contact with said wall during the return of said face toward the top portion of said wall.

14. A device suitable for use in handling eggs for separation and inspection purposes, the lsaid device comprising: a frame, egg breaking means mounted on said frame, egg meat and egg shell conveying means associated with said egg breaking means, receptacles detachably mounted on said conveying means to receive egg meat and broken egg shells from said egg breaking means, means associated with said conveying means for separating the bulk of said meat from said shells, and shell expressing means associated with said conveying means to remove residual egg meat from said shells.

15. A device suitable for use in handling eggs for separation and inspection purposes, the said device comprising: egg breaking means mounted on a frame, egg meat and egg shell conveying means associated with said egg breaking means to receive the meat and shells of the broken eggs and move said meat and shells along a pre- 

